E. W. Cole Lecture: Alice Pung on Keeping Calm & Carrying On

Award-winning author Alice Pung delivers the 2026 E. W. Cole Lecture, reflecting on the quiet power of continuing to write through crises, changing political conditions and shifting cultural tastes. Marking 20 years since the publication of her debut Unpolished Gem, Pung examines what it takes to keep returning to the blank page and why reading and writing remain valuable ways to understand our lives and the wider world. Drawing on experience from writing 15 books across contemporary fiction, young adult and children’s literature and non-fiction, Pung explores the fundamentals of writing, the circumstances in which writers practise their craft and the sustained work behind creative achievement. The lecture is followed by an in-conversation with critic, editor and Amplify Bookstore co-founder Marina Sano. Alice Pung will also sign books after the event. The event is suited to adult and older-teen readers, writers, students and anyone interested in literature, creativity, persistence and Australian cultural life. It takes place at The Wheeler Centre, 176 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, on Thursday 6 August 2026 from 6:30pm to 7:30pm. A $0 pay-what-you-wish ticket is available, with optional full, concession and under-30 ticket tiers also offered. Book through the official Wheeler Centre event page and include any access requirements during booking. The venue lists accessible toilets, assistive listening, Auslan interpreting by request, companion tickets, wheelchair access and registered assistance animals. For assistance, contact ticketing@wheelercentre.com or 03 9094 7809.